
/ft? 



LB 2. 5 2- 5 



AMENDA4ENTS 



SCH 





L LAWS, 



1887. 



Thorp & Godfrey 

PRINTERS AND BINDERS 



tt 5*1 



FEB 11 ^° ] 



AMENDMENTS TO THE SCHOOL LAWS. 



[Passed during the session of 1887.] 



Many important amendments to the School Laws were passed at the last ses- 
sion of the Legislature, and a new law enacted relating to truancy. These sev- 
eral provisions are included in this pamphlet, which should be fastened to your 
copy of the General School Laws. The references are to the chapters and sec- 
tions of the compilation of 1885, and the sections in the text of the law which 
have been amended should be plainly marked to indicate the nature of the 
changes made. Every school officer should have a copy of this pamphlet, 
which will be furnished upon application to the Superintendent of Public In- 
struction, Lansing. 

JOSEPH ESTABROOK, 

Superintendent of Public Instruction. 



AMENDMENTS 



SCHOOL LAWS, 1887. 



Chapter III, Section 15. 

[(§42), Page 18. Amended by Act No. 165. Takes effect Sept. 26, 1887.] 

Sec. 15. The district board shall specify the studies to be pursued iu the schools 
of the district [districts], and in addition to the branches in which instruction 
is now required by law to be given in the public schools of the State, instruc- 
tion shall be given in physiology and hygiene with a special reference to the 
nature of alcohol and narcotics and their effects upon the human system. 
Such instruction shall be given by the aid of text-books in the case of pupils 
who are able to read and as thoroughly as in other studies pursued in the same 
school. The text-books to be used for such instruction shall give at least one- 
fourth of their space to the consideration of the nature and effects of alcoholic 
drinks and narcotics, and the books used in the highest grade of graded schools 
shall contain at least twenty pages of matter relating to this subject. Text- 
books used in giving the foregoing instruction shall first be approved by the 
State Board of Education. Each school board making a selection of text- 
books under the provisions of this act shall make a record thereof in their pro- 
ceedings and text-books once adopted under the provisions of this act shall not 
be changed within five years except by the consent of a majority of the qualified 
voters of the district present at an annual meeting or at a special meeting called 
for that purpose. The district board shall require each teacher in the public 
schools of such district, before placing the school register in the hands of the 
directors [director] as provided in section thirteen of this act, to certify therein 
whether or not instruction has been given in the school or grade presided over 
by such teacher, as required by this act, and ic shall be the duty of the director 
of the district to file with the township clerk a certified copy of such certificate. 
Any school board neglecting or refusing to comply with any of the provisions 
of this act, shall be subject to fine or forfeiture the same as for neglect of any 
other duty pertaining to their office. This act shall apply to all schools in the 
State, including schools in cities or villages, whether incorporated under special 
charter or under the general laws. 



SCHOOL LAWS, 1887. 



Chapter IV, Section 3. 

[ (§55), Page 23. Amended by Act No. 266. Takes effect Sept. 26, 1887.] 

Sec. 3. On the third Monday in September in each year, the inspectors 
shall make triplicate reports, setting forth the whole number of districts in 
their townships, the amount of money raised and received for township and 
district libraries, and such other items as shall from year to year be required 
by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, together with the several particu- 
lars set forth in the reports of the school directors for the preceding year ; and 
the township clerk shall, within ten days thereafter, forward two copies of the 
same to the secretary of the county board of school examiners, and file the 
other copy in his office. 

Chapter IV, Section 11. 
[ (§63), Page 24. Amended by Act No. 92. Takes effect Sept. 26, 1887.J 

Sec 11. On receiving notice from the county treasurer of the amount of 
school moneys apportioned to his township, the township clerk shall ap- 
portion the same amount to the several districts therein entitled to the same, 
in proportion to the number of children in each, between the ages of five and 
twenty years, as the same shall be shown by the annual report of the director 
of each district for the school year closing prior to the May apportionment. 



Chapter IV, Section 14. 
[(§66), Page 25. Amended by Act No. 84. Takes effect Sept. 26, 1887.] 

Sec 14. The supervisor shall also assess upon the taxable property of his 
township one mill upon each dollar of the valuation thereof in each year, and 
report the aggregate valuation of each district to the township clerk, who shall 
report said amount to the director of each school district, in his township, or to 
the director of any fractional school district, a portion of which may be 
located in said township, before the first day of September of each year, and 
all moneys so raised shall be apportioned by the township clerk to the district 
in which it was raised ; and all money collected by virtue of this act during the 
year on any property not included in any organized district, or in districts not 
having, during the previous school year, three months' school in districts 
having less than thirty children, or five months' school in districts having 
thirty and less than eight hundred children, or nine months' school in districts 
having eight hundred, or more children, as shown by the last school census, 
shall be apportioned to the several other school districts of said township, in 
the same manner as the primary school interest fund is now apportioned. All 
monevs accruing from the one-mill tax in any township, before any district 
shall "have a legal school therein, shall belong to the district in which it was 
raised, when they shall severally have had a three months' school by a qualified 
teacher. 



AMENDMENTS TO THE 



Chapter IV, Section 16. 
[ (§68), Page 25. Amended by Act No. 38. Takes effect Sept. 26, 1887.] 

Sec. 16. The full amount of all taxes to be levied upon the taxable prop- 
erty in a fractional school district shall be certified by the district board to the 
township clerk of each township in which such district is in part situated, and 
by such township clerks to the supervisors of their respective townships, and it 
shall be the duty of each of said supervisors to certify to each other supervisor 
interested the amount of taxable property in that part of the district lying in 
his township : Provided, That when there exists a manifest difference in the 
valuation of property assessed in fractional districts, composed of territory in 
adjoining townships or counties, such valuation shall be equalized for this spe- 
cific purpose by the supervisors of the townships interested, at a joint meeting 
held for that purpose, on application of either of the supervisors of said town- 
ships. And such supervisors shall respectively ascertain the proportion of such 
taxes to be placed on their respective assessment rolls, according to the amount 
of taxable property in each part of such district. And if said supervisors can- 
not agree as to the proportion of such taxes to be placed on their respective as- 
sessment rolls, a supervisor from an adjoining township shall be called to meet 
with said supervisors in said fractional district and assist in equalizing said val- 
uation. Said supervisor to be paid by the townships interested equally, at the 
rate of three dollars per diem for the time necessarily employed in attendance 
at such meeting of the supervisors, and all necessary traveling expenses. 

Chapter V, Section 2. 
[(§76), Page 27. Amended by Act No. 266. Takes effect Sept. 26, 1887.1 

Sec. 2. The clerk of each county shall, on receiving from the secretary of 
the county board of school examiners the annual reports of the several boards 
of school inspectors, file the same in his office. On receiving notice from the 
Superintendent of Public Instruction of the amount of moneys apportioned to 
the several townships in his county, he shall file the same in his office, and 
forthwith deliver a copy thereof to the county treasurer. 

Chapter VI, Section 1. 

[(§78), Page 27. Amended by Act No. 56. Takes immediate effect.] 

Section 1. Any school district may, by a two-thirds vote of the qualified 
electors of said district present at any annual meeting, or a special meeting 
called for that purpose, borrow money, and may issue bonds of the district 
therefor, to pay for a school-house site or sites, and to erect and furnish school 
buildings, as follows: Districts having less than thirty children between five 
and twenty years of age may have an indebtedness not to exceed three hun- 
dred dollars; districts having thirty children of like age may have an indebted- 
ness not to exceed five hundred dollars; districts having fifty children of like 
age may have an indebtedness not to exceed one thousand dollars ; districts 
having one hundred children of like age may have an indebtedness not to 
exceed three thousand dollars; districts having one hundred and twenty-five 



SCHOOL LAWS, 1887. 



children of like age, and with an assessed valuation of not less than one hun- 
dred and fifty thousand dollars, may have an indebtedness not to exceed 
five thousand dollars ; districts having two hundred children of like age may 
have an indebtedness not to exceed eight thousand dollars; districts having 
three hundred children of like age may have an indebtedness not to exceed 
fifteen thousand dollars; districts having four hundred children of like age 
may have an indebtedness not to exceed twenty thousand dollars; districts 
having five hundred children of like age may have an indebtedness not to 
exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ; and districts having eight hundred children 
or more of like age may have an indebtedness not to exceed thirty thousand 
dollars : Provided, That the indebtedness of a district shall in no case extend 
beyond ten years for money borrowed : Provided further, That in all pro- 
ceedings under this section the director, assessor, and one person appointed by 
the district board, shall constitute a board of inspection, who shall cause a poll- 
list to be kept, and a suitable ballot-box to be used, which shall be kept open 
two hours, and said ballotings shall be conducted in the same manner as at 
township elections. 

Chapter XII, Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. 

[(§§ 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138), Pages 40-45. Amended by Act No. 
266. Takes effect Sept. 26, 1887.] 

Section 1. The chairmen of- the boards of school inspectors of the several 
townships in each county shall meet at the office of the county clerk of their 
county on the first Tuesday in August, in each year, and elect by ballot one 
school examiner, who shall hold his office for two years, or until his successor 
shall have been duly elected and qualified : Provided, That in the year eigh- 
teen hundred and eighty-seven there shall be no election of examiner, but the 
two examiners previously elected whose terms of office shall not have expired 
shall hold for the unexpired portions of the terms for which they were elected. 
The county clerk shall be the clerk of such elections in all cases, and in case of 
a tie shall give the casting vote, and he shall preserve a record of such election 
in a book to be kept for that purpose, and shall immediately after such election 
notify the person so elected of his election. The school examiners shall, within 
ten days after receiving notice of their election, take and subscribe the consti- 
tutional oath of office, the same to be filed with the county clerk, and shall 
enter upon the duties of their offices on the fourth Tuesday of August follow- 
ing their election „ 

Sec. 2. The two school examiners elected by the township chairmen shall 
meet at the office of the judge of probate of the county on the fourth Tuesday 
of August of each year, and with the judge of probate, who shall act as a mem- 
ber and clerk of the board for the purpose herein named, shall elect, appoint, 
and employ a secretary of said board of examiners. The judge of probate 
shall, immediately after the board has appointed a secretary, file a certified 
statement of such fact with the county clerk, and said county clerk shall im- 
mediately notify the person appointed as secretary of his appointment, and said 
secretary shall within ten days after receiving notice of his appointment, take 
and subscribe the constitutional oath of office, the same to be filed with the 
county clerk. He shall also execute a bond with two sufficient sureties, to be 
approved by and filed with the county clerk, in the penal sum of five hundred 



AMENDMENTS TO THE 



dollars, conditioned that he will faithfully discharge his duties according to 
law, and faithfully account for and pay over to the proper persons all moneys 
which may come into his hands by reason of his holding such office; and there- 
upon the county clerk shall report the name and postoffice address of such sec- 
retary to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and said secretary shall 
immediately thereafter enter upon the duties of his office. The secretary of 
the board shall be ez-officio a member and the executive officer of the board of 
examiners in the transaction of all business of said board, except in the ap- 
pointing or removing from office of the secretary of said board. The school 
examiner elected by the township chairman, whose term of office shall soonest 
expire, shall be the chairman of the board of examiners. 

Sec. 3. The secretary of the board of school examiners, for the purpose of 
examining all persons who may offer themselves as teachers for the public 
schools, shall hold two regular public examinations in each year at the county 
seat, which examinations shall be on the first Thursday of March and August; 
for a like purpose, said secretary shall also hold not to exceed six special pub- 
lic examinations at such times and places as in the judgment of said board of 
examiners, the interest of the schools and teachers of the county shall require: 
Provided, That first and second grade certificates shall be granted only at the 
regular public examinations provided for in this section: Provided, further, 
That it shall be the duty of the secretary of the board of school examiners to 
make out a schedule of the times and places of holding special examinations, 
and to cause it to be published in one or more newspapers of the county at least 
ten days before each special examination, and he shall send a copy thereof to 
the chairman of each township board of school inspectors of the county, at least 
ten days previous to the time of holding auy special examination. 

Sec. 4. The board of school examiners shall meet on the Saturday following 
each public examination held by the secretary, and shall grant certificates to 
teachers in such form as the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall prescribe, 
licensing as teachers ail persons who shall have attained the age of sixteen 
years, who have attended said public examination and who shall be found qual- 
ified in respect to good moral character, learning and ability to instruct and 
govern a school; but no certificate shall be granted to any person who shall not 
pass a satisfactory examination in orthography, reading, writing, grammar, 
geography, arithmetic, theory and art of teaching, United States history, civil 
government, and physiology and hygiene with particular reference to the effects 
of alcoholic drinks, stimulants, and narcotics upon the human system. All 
certificates shall be signed by the secretary and chairman of said board. No 
person shall be considered a qualified teacher within the meaning of the school 
law, nor shall auy school officer employ or contract with any person to teach in 
any of the public schools who has not a certificate in force granted by the 
board of school examiners of the county or other lawful authority : Provided, 
That all examination questions shall be prepared and furnished by the Super- 
intendent of Public Instruction to said secretary under seal, to be opened be- 
fore the applicants for certificates on the day of examination. 

Sec. 5. There shall be three grades of certificates granted by the board of 
school examiners in its discretion, and subject to such rules and regulations as 
the Superintendent of Public Instruction may prescribe, which grades of cer- 
tificates shall be as follows: The certificate of the first grade shall be granted 
•only to those who shall have taught at least one year with ability and success, 
.and it shall be valid throughout the State for three years : Provided, That 



SCHOOL LAWS, 1887. 



no first grade certificate shall be valid in any county other than that in which 
it was issued, uuless a copy of said certificate is filed with the secretary of the 
county board of examiners of the county in which the holder of said certificate 
desires to teach. The certificate of the second grade shall be granted only to 
those who shall have taught at least six months with ability and success, and it 
shall be valid throughout the county for which it shall be granted for two 
years. The certificate of the third g'rade shall license the holder thereof to 
teach in the county for which it shall be granted for one year: Provided, 
That the secretary of the board of school examiners or any other member of 
the board authorized by said secretary shall have power, upon personal 
examination satisfactory to himself, and subject to such rules and regulations 
as the board of school examiners may establish, to grant special certificates, 
which shall license the holder thereof to teach in a specified district for which 
it shall be granted ; but such certificate shall not continue in force beyond the 
time of the next public examination, and it shall not in any way exempt the 
teacher from a full examination : Provided further, That in case the holder 
of a special certificate does not appear for examination before the board at the 
next public examination succeeding the date of such special certificate, a sec- 
ond special certificate shall not be granted to such person except by order of 
the board of examiners, nor shall any member of the board of examiners, 
unless authorized by the board, grant a special certificate to any person who 
at a previous examination failed to secure a certificate. 

Sec 9. It shall be the duty of the secretary of the board of school exami- 
ners : 

First, Immediately upon his qualification as secretary, to send notice there- 
of, to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and to the chairman of each 
township board of school inspectors of the county ; 

Second, To be present at all meetings of the board, and to keep a record of 
all proceedings of the board ; 

Third, To keep a record of all examinations held by the board, and to sign 
all certificates and other papers and reports issued by said board ; 

Fourth, To act as treasurer of the board for the purpose of receiving the in- 
stitute fees provided by law, and paying the same to the county treasurer once 
in each month ; 

Fifth, To keep a record of all certificates granted, suspended, or revoked 
by the board, showing to whom issued, together with the date, grade, and du- 
ration of each certificate, aud if suspended or revoked, the date and reason 
therefor; 

Sixth, To furnish, previous to the first Monday in September in" each year, 
to the township clerk of each towuship in the county, a list of all persons legally 
authorized to teach in the county at large, and in such towuship, with the date 
and term of each certificate, aud if any have been suspended or revoked, the 
date of such suspension or revocation ; 

Seventh, To visit each of the schools in his county at least once each year 
and to examine carefully the discipline, the mode of instruction, and the prog- 
ress and proficiency of the pupils: Provided, That in case the secretary is un- 
able fo visit all the schools of the county, as herein required, he may, wi h the 
approval of the other members of the board of examiners, appoint such assist- 
ant visitors as may be necessary, who shall perform such duties pertaining 
to the visitation and supervision of schools as said secretary shall direct; 

3 



10 AMENDMENTS TO THE 

Eighth, To counsel with the teachers and school boards as to the courses of 
study to be pursued, and as to any improvement in discipline and instruction in 
the schools; 

Ninth, To note the condition of the school-houses and the appurtenances 
thereto, and to suggest plans for new houses to be erected, and for warming 
and ventilating the same, and for the general improvement of school-houses 
and grounds; 

Tenth, To promote by such means as he may devise, subject to the advice of 
the board of school examiners, the improvement of the schools in his county 
and the elevation of the character and qualifications of the teachers and officers 
thereof ; 

Eleventh, To receive the duplicate annual reports of the several boards of 
school inspectors, examine into the correctness of the same, requiring them to be 
amended when necessary, endorse his approval upon them, and immediately 
thereafter, and before the first day of November in each year, transmit to the 
Superintendent of Public Instruction one copy of each of said reports and file 
the other copy in the office of the county clerk ; 

Twelfth, To be snbject to such instructions and rules as the Superintendent 
of Public Instruction may prescribe; to receive all blacks and communications 
that may be sent to him by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and to 
dispose of the same as directed by the said Superintendent ; and to make an- 
nual reports at the close of the school year to the Superintendent of Public 
Instruction, of the official labor performed by the board of school examiners, 
and by himself, and of the general condition and management of the schools 
of the county, together with such other information as may be required of 
him; 

Thirteenth, To perform such other duties as may be required of him by 
law, or the board of school examiners, and at the close of his term of office, 
to deliver all records, books and papers belonging to his office to the board of 
examiners. 

Sec. 10. It shall be the duty of the chairman of the board of school in- 
spectors of each township : 

First, To have general supervisory charge of the schools of his township, 
subject to such advice and direction as the secretary of the county board of 
examiners may give; 

Second, To notify the secretary of the board of school examiners of any 
school within his township that is not being conducted in a successful and 
profitable manner; 

Third, 'To make such reports of his official labors, and the condition of the 
schools as the Superintendent of Public Instruction may direct, or the board 
of school examiners request ; 

Fourth, To perform such other duties as may be required of him by law, or 
that the Superintendent of Public Instruction may direct. 

Sec. 11. Each member of the board of school examiners, other than the 
secretary, shall receive four dollars for each day actually employed in the duties 
of his office. The compensation of the secretary of the board of examiners 
shall be determined by the board appointing him, as provided for in section 
two of th'sact: Provided, In counties having thirty districts or less such 
compensation shall not exceed three hundred dollars per annum; in counties 
having more than thirty districts such compensation shall be not to exceed at 



SCHOOL LAWS, 1887. 11 



the rate of ten dollars for each district coming under the provisions of this act; 
but in no case shall the salary of the secretary of the board of examiners be 
more than fifteen hundred dollars per annum. The compensation of any 
' assistant visitor, when appointed as provided in this act, shall be determined by 
the board of school examiners, but in no case shall it exceed three dollars for 
each day: Provided, That the number of days so employed shall not exceed 
thirty, in any one year, necessarily devoted to the duties required of him. The 
compensation of each member of the board of school examiners, including the 
secretary and any assistant visitor, shall be paid quarterly from the county 
treasury, upon such member filing with the county clerk a sworn statement of 
his account, signed by the chairman and secretary of the board of school ex- 
aminers, and obtaining an order from the county clerk upon the county treas- 
urer for the amount of such account: Provided, That in no case shall the 
secretary of the board of examiners receive any order for his compensation 
from the county clerk until he has filed a certified statement from the Superin- 
tendent of Public Instruction that all required reports have been properly 
made and filed with said Superintendent. The necessary contingent expenses 
of 'the board of examiners for printing, postage, stationery, record books and 
rent of room for public examinations, shall be audited and allowed by the 
board of supervisors of the county, but shall in no county exceed the sum of 
two hundred dollars per annum, but no traveling fees shall be allowed to the 
secretary or any member of the board of examiners or to any assistant visitor. 
The compensation of the several chairmen of the township boards of school 
inspectors, when in attendance at the annual meeting for the election of school 
examiners and the annual joint meeting with the board of school examiners, 
shall be the same as is allowed to members of the board of supervisors of the 
county, and when performing other duties required of him, as provided in th's 
act, the same as is allowed to school inspectors bylaw: Provided, Said chair- 
man shall not receive to exceed two dollars for each school district in the town- 
ship, the same to be audited by the township boards of their respective town- 
ships and paid as other expenses of the township. 

Sec. 12. Any member of a board of school examiners, other than the sec- 
retary, may be removed from office by the judge of probate of the county for 
immorality, incompetency, or neglect of duty. Tlu secretary of the board of 
examiners may be removed for like causes by the members of the board of ex- 
aminers selected by the township chairmen, acting jointly with the judge of pro- 
bate ; but no member of such board of school examiners, nor the secretary, 
shall be removed from office without an opportunity to answer to the charges 
made against him, and all such charges shall be made in writing. Whenever, 
by death, resignation, removal, or otherwise, a vacancy shall occur in the board 
of school examiners of any county, other than in the office of secretary, the 
judge of probate of such county shall have power to fill such vacancy until the 
first Tuesday in August after his appointment, at which time an examiner shall 
be elected to fill the unexpired term by the chairmen of the boards of school 
inspectors of the several townships in the county. Whenever a vacancy occurs 
in the office of secretary, it shall be filled in the same manner as is provided 
for the appointment of secretary, in section two of this chapter, and shall be 
for the unexpired portion of the term for which the vacating secretary was ap- 
pointed. 

Sec. 13. All schools which by special enactment may have a district board 



12 AMENDMENTS TO THE 

authorized to inspect and grant certificates to the teachers employed by the 
same, shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter as to the examina- 
tion and licensing of teachers. The officers of every school district which is or 
shall hereafter be organized in whole or in part in any incorporated city in this 
State, where no special enactments shall exist in regard to the licensing of 
teachers, shall have power to examine and license, or cause to be examined and 
licensed, or may require the county board of examiners to examine and license, 
teachers for such district, and such license shall be valid not to exceed three 
years. All city schools having a superintendent employed by their respective 
boards of education, shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter, as to 
the examination and licensing of teachers, and as to the supervision of schools. 
But all such schools shall, through their proper officers, make such reports as 
the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall direct. 



[Act No. 222.] 

an act to prevent crime and punish truancy. 

Takes effect September 26, 1887. 

Section 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact, That any girl 
between the ages of ten and seventeen years, or boy between the. ages of ten 
and sixteen years, who shall run away, or willfully absent himself or herself 
from the school he or she is attending, or from any house, office, shop, farm 
or other place where such person is legitimately employed to labor, or shall 
frequent saloons or other places where intoxicating liquors aie kept for sale, or 
shall be found lounging around the same, or shall be found lounging upon the 
public streets, or other public places of any city or village, against the com- 
mand of his or her parent or guardian, or shall, without the permission of his 
or her parents or guardian, attend any public dance, skating rink or show, 
shall be deemed to be a truant and disorderly person. 

Sec. 2. Upon complaint upon oath and in writing made before any justice 
of the peace by the parent or guardian of any girl between the ages of ten and 
seventeen years, or of any boy between ten and sixteen years of age, or by the 
supervisor of any township, or the mayor of any city, or president of any vil- 
lage, and in cities of over eight thousand population, by the chief of police, 
that any such minor has been guilty of any of the acts specified in section one 
of this act, such justice shall issue his warrant for the arrest of such minor, 
and upon such conviction, such minor, if a boy, may be sentenced by such 
justice to the Reform School for boys at Lansing ; and if a girl, to the State 
Industrial Home for Girls at Adrian ; boys until seventeen years of age and 
girls until twenty-one years of age, unless sooner discharged according to law: 
Provided, That no person or persons shall be sent to said Reform School for 
boys, or the Industrial Home for girls until the sentence therein has been sub- 
mitted to and approved by the circuit judge of the circuit or the judge of pro- 
bate of the county in which such conviction shall be had. 

Sec 3. The same proceedings shall be had upon the trial of any person 
charged with being guilty of any of the offences mentioned in section one of 



SCHOOL LAWS, 1887. 13 



this act before the justice before whom such person is brought as are had in 
trials for misdemeanor, as far as the same are applicable, and the State agent 
for the care of juvenile offenders of the county wherein such offenders may be 
on trial shall have authority and take the same action in the premises as is 
provided by act number one hundred and seventy-one of the session laws of 
eighteen hundred and seventy- three of this State. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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020 312 098 9 



